Media Release

Written and directed by O’Neal, Au Pair, Kansas has won international honors, including the 2011 Best Low Budget Feature Film award at the Cannes Independent Film Festival.

Lawrence, KS, November 3, 2011 – Filmmaker, photographer, and physician Jon “J.T.” O’Neal graduated from KU with an honors degree in history of art. His latest feature film, Au Pair, Kansas, took inspiration from O’Neal’s long-time interest in the Swedish immigrant artist Birger Sandzén, who taught and practiced art in Lindsborg, Kansas. Shot in Lindsborg, the film combines drama and comedy with shades of European magical realism to tell the story of a widowed woman who hires a Norwegian soccer player to be a male au pair and help her raise her two sons.

At the Spencer on Sunday, October 16, O’Neal will introduce his award-winning film and, following the screening, answer questions from the audience. The film screening is free and open to the public.

O’Neal also will conduct a special screenwriting workshop for artists from 1–3 PM; for more information about the workshop, please contact Celka Straughn, the Spencer’s Andrew W. Mellon Director of Academic Programs (straughn@ku.edu or 785.864.0136).

The film screening and workshop are organized by the Spencer in conjunction with the KU Department of Film and Media Studies. Please note that times are subject to change; check the SMA website for the most current information. To learn more about O’Neal andAu Pair, Kansas, please see the film’s official website.

The Spencer’s collection includes works by both J.T. O’Neal and Birger Sandzén.